I’ll begin this years missive by declaring that I have NOT increased my animal population! I added a cat, but then one disappeared, so the sum total remains at one. Poor Mugsie apparently made some feral creature a nice late afternoon snack, which left the warm spot on the bed free for the prodigal return of Trouble. (He had moved out with Zina last year, but was banished back to Milton for peeing on beds. Bad enough, but then he lifted his leg on a sleeping roomate.)
The dogs, aged 3, 10, 11, & 16, are all still going strong. The Yorkie matriarch of the group, Strawberry, doesn’t see well, can’t hear much, but her heart is strong and her bladder small (take it from there). Stitch, the baby of the group, now weighs in at 140lbs., was raised by Biggles (the 10 pound, neurotic spawn of Strawberry) and looks like an absolute idiot as he excitedly bounces up and down like a toy breed. My darlin’ Clementine, the mid-sized yellow mutt, remains the sweetest, kindest castoff imaginable.
Our current bunny, Greta Garbo, cavorts around happily, thumping her kickers until she spies a human, and then dashes madly into hiding. I’ve been heard saying that I have a non-replacement policy on rabbits, but it always seems such a waste to have that lovely hutch just sitting there empty…
All of our horses remain hale and hearty, consuming vast quantities of very expensive forage and grain. My girl, Charlotte, is fat and fresh; Zina’s steed, Curtis, is wiry and punkish; Sofia’s young mare is volatile and brazen. (Is anyone else picking up on the similarities between equine and owner?) Our little slice of heaven on the banks of the Taunton River continues to be well worth all the time and energy it takes to keep the farm rolling along. It’s such a joy to know that a short ways down the road from home we have a peaceful, private setting where we can ride our horses, and spend endless hours fixing fences and moving mountains of manure from one spot to another.
In other news, I am again unencumbered after another crack at being the rational half of a pair (smacks to all of you who are now tittering behind your hands). Zina and Sofia are still dating the same lovely young men as last year, much to my great happiness. I’ve asked both boys several times to produce a suitable male relative on my behalf, but they just mumble and edge away.
My childcare business remains my mainstay, as I dabble more in photography and writing. When I’m not working, or going out for amazing local Blues, I spend my time at the farm riding, repairing and relaxing. Zina continues to snip tresses at the salon in Boston, where her browbeaten boss kowtows to her every whim. Most of her free time is spent jumping Curtis over brightly colored objects (and making Billy jump through hoops). Sofia, the younger, is transitioning from shoveling manure to changing diapers, and will be my right hand gal after the first of the year. Also a regular rider, she finds lots of time to pour beer into her hollow leg. Suffice it to say that any undesirable traits come from the Greek side of things :}~
Wishing you all heaps of happiness and good health in the upcoming year!
xoxo Ruth xoxo
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